Volunteers working to protect shorebirds

Lauren Wilson looks at a nest through a scope during a bird walk at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, Fla. on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Andrew P Johnson | The News Herald

By Valerie Garman / The News Herald

Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 08:49 AM.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — With a huge spike in beachfront development observed over the last 30 years, protecting shorebirds and welcoming visitors is often a balancing act.

As visitors continue to flood local beaches, Bay County Audubon Society is busy rallying volunteers to educate the public on the needs of nesting shorebirds.

“Audubon is part of a five-year effort right now to build a volunteer base at 19 sites across the Panhandle to help protect the beach nesting shorebirds,” said Bonnie Samuelsen, project manager with Audubon Florida. “The Panhandle has some really important birding sites. These are mostly shorebirds and seabirds that we’re working with, and they require that coastal habitat to survive.”

The organization is currently training “Shorebird Stewards” to go nesting sites and talk to beachgoers about the presence and importance of the birds.

A group of volunteers gathered at St. Andrews State Park Saturday for a guided bird walk to learn more about shorebird protection. Samuelsen said Audubon will continue to train volunteers on guided walks throughout the nesting season and those interested do not need to be expert birders.

“Having volunteers at these nesting sites has proven to help the nesting success,” she said. “If we can educate the public and let them know there are chicks in the area, that there’s nesting in the area, they’re generally more than happy to help the effort.”

Audubon monitors the beach weekly for nesting shorebirds and ropes off areas where the birds are nesting or preparing to nest.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — With a huge spike in beachfront development observed over the last 30 years, protecting shorebirds and welcoming visitors is often a balancing act.

As visitors continue to flood local beaches, Bay County Audubon Society is busy rallying volunteers to educate the public on the needs of nesting shorebirds.

“Audubon is part of a five-year effort right now to build a volunteer base at 19 sites across the Panhandle to help protect the beach nesting shorebirds,” said Bonnie Samuelsen, project manager with Audubon Florida. “The Panhandle has some really important birding sites. These are mostly shorebirds and seabirds that we’re working with, and they require that coastal habitat to survive.”

The organization is currently training “Shorebird Stewards” to go nesting sites and talk to beachgoers about the presence and importance of the birds.

A group of volunteers gathered at St. Andrews State Park Saturday for a guided bird walk to learn more about shorebird protection. Samuelsen said Audubon will continue to train volunteers on guided walks throughout the nesting season and those interested do not need to be expert birders.

“Having volunteers at these nesting sites has proven to help the nesting success,” she said. “If we can educate the public and let them know there are chicks in the area, that there’s nesting in the area, they’re generally more than happy to help the effort.”

Audubon monitors the beach weekly for nesting shorebirds and ropes off areas where the birds are nesting or preparing to nest.

Nesting season begins in February for shorebirds and seabirds most commonly found in Panama City Beach, which include snowy plovers, least terns, black skimmers and Wilson’s plovers.

Beachgoers are often unaware the birds are nesting because they often camouflage themselves and their nests to protect against predators.

“Just because of lack of information, they unknowingly disturb the nesting,” Samuelsen said. “We’re trying to really create that awareness and trying to really protect that habitat.”

Beachgoers can also help by not feeding seagulls because the gulls feed on shorebird eggs and chicks. On busy beaches there is often an unnatural abundance of gulls, Samuelsen said.

“In my experience over the years, most people are thrilled to see the nesting,” she said. “It’s not just about sea turtles, it’s shorebirds and it’s all the coastal wildlife that’s out there.”

Info box

Those interested in volunteering to help protect nesting shorebirds can contact Bonnie Samuelsen at bsamuelsen@audubon.org or at 850-866-7152.